Question for LUCY and FC57

melikecoins

I have just aquired a few Franklin Halfs with full bell line and need help grading them.
Question: rub on the cheek (where the frost is broken) how important is it?
Question: obverse field frost breaks, is that just as bad as marks?
Question: Pass & Stow and the general area around the bell mushy?
How bad are these to PCGS?
Thanks for your help
Glen

LucyBop

HMMM.. ARE THESE MINT STATE OR PROOFS, AND WHAT YEARS AS SOME YEARS SUFFERED FROM MUSHY STRIKES, PARTICULARLY THE S MINTS...

whoops sorry for the caps...

FC57Coins

Agree with Lucy - we need to know whether they're MS or PR, and the year and mint - if you have pictures it'll make it even better.

Thanks!

Frank

ksteelheader

Pictures, pictures please!........Ken

Gilbert

Be careful using the word "rub". Rub would pretty much automatically render them less than mint state.

Also, when you frost break in the fields, I am going to assume you mean "mint luster". Usage is ever so important to get an ACCURATE response.

melikecoins

Sorry for leaving that out, they are mint state.
Mushy Rev ,55, 54-D, 59.
Broken frost 57-D, 58-D.
Obv field frost broken 48.

LucyBop

its still hard to say, but the 55 and the 59 were both weaker strike years, the 54d's that I have have great strikes on them.....

the broken luster is alittle scary, this could be a sign of a circulated coin....... Luster breaks could very well mean au city......

melikecoins

Frankies are harder then I thought.
I'm trying to get ms66 coin what would that look like?

FC57Coins

<< <i>Mushy Rev ,55, 54-D, 59.
Broken frost 57-D, 58-D.
Obv field frost broken 48 >>



The mushy reverse on the 55 and 54D make me wonder if these coins haven't seen some light circulation. Generally speaking the 54D has a very good strike, and the 55 is not bad, though a little weaker. The 59 is going to be mushy even in top condition, as the master die had worn considerably by then.

The broken frost on the rest of the coins also make me believe that perhaps these have also seen some circulation. Particularly due to the fact that the coins that you are talking about generally have very strong luster - usually under pretty heavy toning. If the coins that you have are white, then most likely they have been dipped, and if the frost/luster is broken, then they may have been overdipped. Some pictures of the coins would be really helpful.

Below is an example of a 48P in MS66. Don't lose hope - once you get the hang of what gem Frankies look like you don't soon forget!

Regards,

Frank

LucyBop

Here are a few ms66fbl's of mine.

melikecoins

Those are great coins Lucy and Frank Thanks.
The mushy effect that I was talking about is like the dark wing-like luster starting at the bottom of the bell and going up to U PULRIBUS UNUM on the left and the eagle on the right on Franks coin
and the light wing-like look at the bottom of the bell on Lucy's
Glen

FC57Coins

Glen - it's hard to say what the coins might be - sometimes Franklins can be hard to grade - especially off a picture. It sounds like you definitely have some high grade coins - placing them on the scale is the tough part. My suggestion would be to look at some slabbed coins in person and try to determine in your mind what the determinants for grades are. Even for those of us who have looked at boatloads of Franklins, some still pose a major challenge.

Frank

melikecoins

Yea Frank I have been eyeballing the pictures at Heritage in close up and I have learned a little.
Maybe I just have to see some high grades in person.
That is not to easy to do as they are few and far between.
Glen